Finca Neo Jibairo, a farm in Río Grande founded 16 years ago in a San Juan garden, has grown into an agritourism destination spanning 10 cuerdas, about 9.7 acres, owner and farmer Francisco Castro said. The farm grows more than 26 types of fruits and vegetables plus coffee and tobacco, and runs a store, a café and artisanal pizzeria, an event venue, and lodging for up to four guests.
Castro said diversification is key to the business model, with each operation contributing differently to revenue. Tobacco stands out: the farm makes roughly 3,000 to 5,000 cigars a week and, Castro said, is the only tobacco farm that carries out every stage commercially, from seed and transplanting to aging, rolling and worldwide distribution. Quality lets the farm avoid matching competitors’ prices, he added.
His remarks come as agritourism expands in Puerto Rico, including coffee, dairy, rum and cacao tourism. The farm has faced utility problems: after Hurricane Maria its electricity bills exceeded $3,000 a period, which led it to acquire a solar power system, though it stays connected to public water and sewer as backup during droughts and emergencies.
It recently opened a second store in Bayamón called La Turrería, selling its products seven days a week, and plans to keep expanding.